Silent No More: Victim 1's Fight for Justice Against Jerry Sandusky

This book riveted me from the first page to the last. Even if it were not well-written (and it is), it would still offer an important and revealing point of view of the Jerry Sandusky case - from the inside.I just can't even imagine the courage that Aaron, his mother, Dawn and Mike Gillum, Aaron's psychologist, dredged up from somewhere deep in their souls, motivated by the utter conviction that, no matter who is he or how important he is, this bastard was not going to get away with raping more young boys. Not on their watch.Aaron risked both his mental health and the slings of the "other-side", the football fanatics and the important people who backed and celebrated the sport at Penn State (as though it were almost a religion) and who didn't particularly care about the many victims of sexual abuse, as long as they had their games and their games' icons.The book tells the whole story, starting with Aaron's "grooming" and abuse, starting at age 11, at the hands of the Penn State Monster, from three points of view - Aaron's, Dawn's and Mike's. Though some have complained that this got repetitive, I cannot agree, as the three have notably different points of view, and the combination of them all draws a more vivid and deeply-nuanced view of the events as Sandusky was accused, convicted and sent to prison.There's enough blame to go around for these tawdry events, but several people stand out for their reprehensible behavior, in particular:The principal and assistant principal of Aaron's school, who, instead of notifying the police, told Aaron and his mother to go home and "think about" the possible repercussions. Total CYA, no help whatsoever, and not even a nod to justice.The students of Penn State. Not all of them, but a large number of them, who rioted after the arrest, not because of what was done to these kids by their revered leaders and their cowardly institution, but because their legendary football coach was fired. In fact, they left the victims in terror, as they denounced them as liars and frauds for exposing their beloved football program, threatening both their shot at justice and their very lives. Aaron's family had to move and Aaron had to be moved to another school, just to keep them all safe.Tom Corbett, then Attorney General, now Governor of Pennsylvana, was one of the worst. As AG, he intentionally delayed any indictment and arrest for more than a year, allowing Sandusky to continue to molest boys over that time, because he was running for Governor and didn't want Penn State fans to be mad at him. As far as I'm concerned, he's an unindicted co-conspirator in the rape of young boys because he sacrificed their bodies, mental health and very souls on the altar of his political ambition. He has a lot to answer for (also for being, predictably, a lousy Governor), and I hope the voters take him to task for his self-centered obstruction of justice.And, perhaps worst of all, Joe Amendola, the ultimate prototype of the lawyer joke. He's going to make millions from losing such a high-profile case, but he's the reason that so many rapes and other abuses go unreported - he re-victimized each of the victims of the Sandusky Monster both in the media and in the courtroom, calling them money-grubbing liars who saw the possibility of a quickie payday in court. And he did it, right to their faces, as he cross-examined them. This is a man with no shame, no sense of justice, and no morality except getting himself another fifteen minutes in front of the cameras. This is what many victims call, appropriately, their "second rape". The first one is the actual event, the second is when scum like Amendola demean, insult and vilify them on the witness stand. His performance in court was shameful, in every way. He played for the cameras, and lost.Some reviewers have taken Mike Gillum to task for picturing himself at the center of this story, and for continuing his campaign to prevent sexual abuse far beyond the end of the trial.Personally, I didn't find his sections at all self-serving. Yes, he was a passionate advocate, but that's a passionate advocate for his patient, Aaron Fisher and all the other kids he served in his public service as a psychologist for abused youth and women. He was the first one to fully believe Aaron, and the rock on which Aaron leaned as he fought to keep himself together and to get justice. They are now working together on campaigns to prevent and detect child sexual and physical abuse.The biggest villain in this tragic story is not even Sandusky, it's the tons of adults in positions of power that allowed this man to wreak his evil upon innocent children and then covered up his crimes. They are the enablers who cared more about football, careers and reputations than for the children crying out for help in rescuing them from unthinkable harm.It is nothing less than shameful, and perhaps that's the real reason why this scandal resonated so widely, passionately and for so long.In any case, please read this book. It is well-worth the cost.

This story is about Aaron Fisher's bad luck to cross Jerry Sandusky's path...it's also about outrages that no child...no person should have to endure. Being molested by an adored football coach is one thing...being tossed to the wolf by the very people who are supposed to be protecting him is quite another. The Penn State fans in Happy Valley protest their innocence in much the same way as the citizens of Dachau. We didn't know! How could we know? It's not OUR fault. And yet, the story of a vice-principle who regularly handed a child over to Sandusky without permission of the parent ... even after walking in on something that should raise the antenna of the most naive ... is unconscionable. The story of a principle who tried to convince a weeping child and furious mother that they shouldn't call the police because "Jerry has a heart of gold" is both shocking and disgusting. The classmates and their parents who taunted Aaron and his mother for breaking the silence ....the neighbors who ignored a sixty year old coach standing in the front yard of a child's house, screaming for the frightened boy to come out...the behavior of the community created an environment where secrets are preferred and troubling events are ignored.If we assume that law enforcement did everything they could as fast as they could, then one has to wonder... was this a community so blinded by the Penn State culture that they wouldn't believe a single boy? Wouldn't believe two? Or three? Or four? Certainly, one has to wonder if this secret was so important to the region that an unbiased jury couldn't understand the situation and act without TEN boys speaking out? And if law enforcement were dragging their collective feet, then one has to wonder why?Then there are the students at Penn State who rioted over the firing of a man who at the very least cared more about the upcoming game with Nebraska than abused children...a man who forgot that his JOB was to take care of kids. And of course, less offensive but equally lost...was another group of students who thought that standing around holding a candle was going to right the wrong to the victims and return peace to Happy Valley. And the administrators who were more worried about football than a boy...than many boys as it turns out...so worried about football in fact that they failed the school, the community, and the victims for many years. And alumnae and fans shrieking in rage about whether or not a game should continue...too insensitive to see anything beyond their desire to worship a stone cold statue...are the most shameful betrayers of all. It's a story that continues to enrage ... day in and day out.This is just one family's story...the horror was repeated many times in the many years that Jerry Sandusky has been raping children. If for no other reason, if you have never been privy to what abuse like this does to the psyche, this book will make you feel the fear, panic, dread, embarrassment, and daily anguish these victims must endure. Especially when living in such a hostile and unhappy village as Happy Valley...

I purchased this book on Wednesday Nov 7th & finished it by midnight of November 8th 2012.Before reading this book I was totally unfamiliar with the entire case although I had heard major talk about it on the radio & the news. After reading it I have to say this is one of the best books I've ever read and as I parent of a young boy I feel like this book is a tool that parents can use to protect our children.Aaron Victim no.1, his mother Dawn, and his psychologist Mike are the key voices of this book. As you read though it you go through each of their minds as they explain things from their perspectives & experiences with this entire ordeal.Aaron is an incredibly brave young man and his terrible fight hurts me to the core. While it hurts to know that a very young child was hurt by a monster (jerry sandusky) I feel so proud of this young man for having the courage to bring this animal to light and to be brave enough to speak up when no one else could.As for Aaron's mom parents will learn the signs that Ms.Dawn saw but shrugged aside. As she says in the book parents should always listen to their gut feelings!Sandusky is one sick SOB and all the time in jail will never be long enough for him to pay the price of his crimes.Mike (Aaron's psychologist) also plays a super role in this entire situation and explain the entire ordeal from his eyes, as well as the mental and spiritual damage that Sandusky caused this young man.An amazing read with a thick morals: Wrong is wrong no matter who does it & sometimes it takes one courageous soul to end a world of pain.